"Three...two...one...Happy New Year!!!" The whole crew chanted together. Everyone exchanged toasts. Captain Maruu and Commander Nori kissed each other's lips. Commander Lataro and Commander K'Lara performed the same action. Lieutenants Garza, Valdago, and Loran toasted the new year. Everyone was jovial. It was January 1, 2360.
The celebrations lasted until 1000 hours. By that time, everyone was so tired, they headed for bed. The ship was practically silent. Not a soul stirred. The Virgo lay inside a thick nebula where they would be safe. Additionally, the computer had been programmed to sound all klaxons and go to Red Alert automatically if any ship got within one million miles of the Virgo. They were not going to be caught unprepared.
Valdago stirred in bed. It was 1100 hours. The entire ship was dead silent. However, Valdago could not sleep. He couldn't take it anymore. Valdago got up and headed for the faucet. He splashed some water on his face and looked at himself in the mirror. What he saw in the mirror frightened him. Out of the corner of his eye, Valdago saw movement behind him. He turned around. No one was there.
It was only a hallucination. Valdago sighed. I have to go to bed. I'm starting to see things.
He began to walk to bed when he saw something move in the shadows. This time it was no hallucination.
"Hello? Solacetta?"
Nothing.
Suddenly, the shadow jumped at Valdago. It delivered a blow to his face which sent Valdago down. Next, the figure pulled out a glistening knife. It brought the knife down on Valdago's chest. Valdago, however, rolled to the side. The knife got stuck in his rug. Valdago jumped up and grabbed the mysterious intruder. He sent him flying against a wall. The intruder fell on the ground. Valdago went to examine the intruder but was surprised when he saw the person was no longer there. Valdago turned around and saw that the knife, which had been implanted in the floor of his quarters, had been quickly removed.
"Alright, John. I'm sure we're all wondering why you put the entire ship on alert by activating every single klaxon at once." Captain Maruu was groggy. He had had very little sleep, as had the rest of the crew.
"Captain, Solacetta may be back on board. She attacked me in my quarters just an hour ago." Valdago was agitated.
Lataro rose. "If Solacetta is back, we need to take every precaution."
"I need security teams searching the entire ship. Use tachyon particles, take sub-space readings, blast holes in the walls, do whatever you need. I want that android found! Dismissed." Maruu paused. "Valdago, stay here."
The crew went to find Solacetta. Valdago remained in the conference room. "Yes, Captain?"
"What exactly did you see?"
Something about that question bothered Valdago. "I saw a shadow move about in my room. It came at me with a knife. I threw it against the wall, and it disappeared. That's all. It's in my report."
"You filled out a report?"
Another troublesome question. What's wrong with the captain? He must still be asleep. "Of course. It's basic procedure."
"Of course. It slipped my mind. Thank you. Dismissed."
Valdago left the conference room.
Back in his room, Valdago decided the crew might get some answers if he reread his report. Maybe he missed something. Any detail would be helpful. When Valdago tried to access his report, the computer flashed a strange sign on the screen.
<Classified information. Captains and above only.>
"Who classified my report?" The captain!
Suddenly, Valdago saw his doors slide open. Something slipped out. Valdago stood up immediately. As soon as he did, he saw a flashing red light attached to the force field over his bed. Valdago quickly flew out the door. "Computer, place a force field around my quarters now!"
<Force field in place.>
The explosion was heard throughout the ship. Other than destroying Valdago's quarter, it caused no damage or casualties.
Maruu walked into Lt. Alysa Anne Sinclair's quarters. She smiled as he entered, "Captain!"
Before any other word passed between them, Maruu backhanded her across the face. He grabbed her uniform in a threatening manner. "You little..."
She pulled away from him and removed the blood from her lip. "How did you know?"
"I thought it very interesting that your records are classified by Fleet Admiral William Ross himself. Also, I noticed how you've been following Lt. Valdago around since he spilled the secrets of your undercover plot to expose the Starfleet cadets. You have absolutely no conscience." Maruu threw Sinclair on her bed. "I know who you work for. Ever since your agency's alliance with Doctor Bashir on DS9, captains are briefed on the activities and agendas of Section 31."
Sinclair got up and fixed her uniform. "Then you also know that you cannot interfere in our hidden agenda. If you think that everyone on this ship works for you, then you are extremely naive."
"I'm starting to become extremely cynical. Why do you want to kill Valdago? He is a very influential member of this crew."
"He knows too much about how we run. He's seen the inside of our interrogation chambers and has known to what extent we will go in order to make sure that the security and well-being of every citizen of the Federation will prevail. And he has revealed this information. We are preventing these unnecessary facts from coming to light."
"Unnecessary my..."
"You want Valdago safe, then shut him up yourself. You're the captain; you can do that."
"What if I bring forth the truth myself?"
Sinclair smiled. "Then, you'd be surprised to find out that there are very knowledgeable and treacherous people in your command." She paused. "Now, be a good captain and save your crewman."
"This is not over." Maruu began to walk out.
"It's only the beginning."
Maruu stormed out.
Valdago walked into the Captain's Ready Room. "Captain, there was an explosion..."
Maruu stood up. "Computer, lock door."
The door to the Ready Room shut and locked.
"Lieutenant, take off your com badge. This conversation is strictly off record."
Valdago reluctantly removed his com badge. "Captain, what's going on?"
"Section 31. They're on this vessel."
"What?! Oh my God! They know about the Rendex Geor don't they? I told you they'd try to kill me."
"I know. I didn't believe Starfleet could do these things. Now I do. I want to apologize."
"It's no problem, Captain."
"The head of Section 31 on this ship has promised to let you live. You just have to never tell anyone about the Rendex Geor again. I'll talk to Dana. She'll know what you know. No one is to know about Section 31, Rendex Geor, or anything else. We won't even tell the Starfleet Intelligence Officer unless it is absolutely necessary. Your quarters are being repaired as we speak. I've already filled out a report in which Solacetta infiltrates the ship and destroys your quarters using a bomb. I've also mentioned that you drove her off the Virgo again. To make the cover up more believable, I've decided to promote you to the rank of full Lieutenant. You deserve it. Congratulations." Maruu handed Valdago two gold pips. "The real report will be classified so far that not even I will be able to pull it up later. The truth cannot be known. Is this clear?"
"Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir."
Maruu sighed. "I used to think Starfleet was better than this. It turns out it's just as corrupt as the Cardassians." He paused. "Computer, unlock door."
Valdago grinned slightly. He replaced his com badge, left the room, and proceeded to inform Loran of his heroics in saving the Virgo from the evil of Solacetta.